New Blind Pig releases out today!

NEW BLIND PIG RELEASES OUT TODAY! Titles from Zac Harmon and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Blind Pig Records has just released a pair of fine CDs from venerable blues acts: ZAC HARMON   "RIGHT MAN RIGHT NOW" Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Right Man Right Now is contemporary music that proves just how alive and relevant the blues is today.  Addressing issues straight from today’s headlines, Zac presents them in a  fresh original style built on the best blues tradition.  And he has some incredibly talented musicians helping him - guests include Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and Mike Finnegan. After a very successful twenty-plus year career as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the likes of the O'Jays, the Whispers, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Black Uhuru, and Michael Jackson, Zac moved to Dallas to pursue his dream of becoming a top-flight touring blues artist The album provides definitive proof that Zac Harmon is indeed the right man to firmly establish all that blues can and should be right now in the second decade of the new millennium. CDs available at fine shops everywhere - support your local record store!  CDs and downloads are also available from Amazon.   And you can get downloads from this and other fine Blind Pig recordings at the Pig Pen page on iTunes. Zac Harmon Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 29 Dallas, TX Babbs Brothers BBQ Sept. 10 Omaha, NE The 21st Saloon Sept. 11 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends Sept. 12 Grafton, WI Paramount Blues Festival Sept. 19 Denton, TX Denton Blues Festival Oct. 8 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival Oct. 18 Fredericksburg, TX Blankets and Blues Oct. 29 Sioux City, IA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Oct. 30 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's Oct. 31 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND   "NUMBERS MAN" The Andy T-Nick Nixon Band displays musicianship at its highest. The blues has a history of great partnerships, and Numbers Man offers proof positive that Andy T and Nick Nixon belong in that select group.   Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues. Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. Numbers Man was produced by renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, and features the great Kim Wilson’s harmonica on one of the tracks. CDs available at fine shops everywhere - support your local record store!  CDs and downloads are also available from Amazon.   And you can get downloads from this and other fine Blind Pig recordings at the Pig Pen page on iTunes. Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 30 Nashville, TN Hard Rock Sept. 17 Dothan, AL Blues at the Clarion Sept. 18 Marietta, GA Darwin's Sept. 19 Tallahassee, FL Bradfordville Blues Club Sept. 22 Nashville, TN Nashville Music Series Sept. 25 Champaign, IL Blues Blast Music Awards Oct. 10 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival

Blind Pig Records artist: Zac Harmon - Right Man Right now - New Release review

I just received the newest release (August 28, 2015) Right Man Right Now, from Zac Harmon and it's squeezing hot. Opening with Raising Hell, a R&B flavored blues track with strong blues guitar riffs from Anson Funderburgh and Lucky Peterson on organ, this is a great opener. Ball and Chain has a slinky feel with two ongoing guitar lines, one clean and one slide, over nice keyboard work, a thumping bass line and smooth vocals compliments of Harmon. This cool funky track has a really nice groove with a lot of small instrumental components that together make up a really cool track. High stepping Hump In Your Back features Bobby Rush on second vocal and harp and an ultra cool guitar line pumped along by Buthel on bass and tight drumming from Cedric Goodman. Harmon lays out a real nice guitar solo of his own on this track punched up by Les Kepics on trumpet and Chuck Phillips on sax. Very cool! Slow and easy, Texas style, Stand Your Ground is a terrific blues track really giving Harmon a chance to show off his best vocal traits. Peterson is back on organ setting up the swat and Harmon plays stinging riff after stinging riff with a nice nod to Albert King. Super! Title track, Right Man Right Now, has a nice bass groove and and ongoing tasty guitar riffs including one repetitive zinger that keeps you on your toes. This is a real slick track featuring Mike Finnigan on keys and Harmon carrying the load vocally. Feet Back On The Ground is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's soulful vocals and stylized guitar work. With it's solid melody, smooth instrumental backing and flavorful guitar work, this could easily carry the release on it's own merit. Excellent! Long Live The Blues has a certain swagger and slashing Albert like guitar riffs. Cedric Goodman finds the cowbell, a not enough used percussive accent giving the track extra bite. Finely blended harmonies on this track also give it a contemporary soul feel. Back Of The Yards is a really hot track with a poppy bass riff from Buthel and great blues riffs from Harmon. Mike Finnigan is back on organ here and Harmon leading the track on vocal just has a really nice feel. John Lee Hooker's I'm Bad Like Jesse James is up next featuring Chef Deni on harp and a spoken word story by Harmon over an easy Hooker guitar riff. Clocking in at over 7 minutes this track sets up to be a really heavy kicker and as it builds momentum it builds tension. Very nice! Funky, Ain't No Big Deal On You, features Mike Finnigan on keys and Harmon really singing in the groove and hitting the guitar riffs just right. Goodman and Buthel keep the bottom tight and this track cruises. Wrapping the release is Good Thing Found, a R&B styled blues number with a pop roll. This is another track that could easily find cross radio play with it's catchy melody, solid vocals and tight instrumentation. Jimmy Z on sax, Chuck Phillips on sax and Les Kepics on trumpet bring up the horns and Harmon just grooves on guitar....great closer!

   

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Blind Pig Announces New Releases!

BLIND PIG ANNOUNCES NEW RELEASES! Titles from Zac Harmon and the Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Out August 28th Blind Pig Records has announced an August 28th release date for two CDs from venerable blues acts: ZAC HARMON   "RIGHT MAN RIGHT NOW" Zac Harmon is an award-winning guitarist, organist, singer, and songwriter whose distinctive style combines the best of old-school soul-blues artists with modern lyrics and themes that bring the blues into a new century. Right Man Right Now is contemporary music that proves just how alive and relevant the blues is today.  Addressing issues straight from today’s headlines, Zac presents them in a  fresh original style built on the best blues tradition.  And he has some incredibly talented musicians helping him - guests include Bobby Rush, Lucky Peterson, Anson Funderburgh and Mike Finnegan. After a very successful twenty-plus year career as a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles, where he worked with the likes of the O'Jays, the Whispers, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Black Uhuru, and Michael Jackson, Zac moved to Dallas to pursue his dream of becoming a top-flight touring blues artist The album provides definitive proof that Zac Harmon is indeed the right man to firmly establish all that blues can and should be right now in the second decade of the new millennium. Zac Harmon Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 29 Dallas, TX Babbs Brothers BBQ Sept. 10 Omaha, NE The 21st Saloon Sept. 11 Chicago, IL Buddy Guy's Legends Sept. 12 Grafton, WI Paramount Blues Festival Sept. 19 Denton, TX Denton Blues Festival Oct. 8 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival Oct. 18 Fredricksburg, TX Blankets and Blues Oct. 29 Sioux City, IA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Oct. 30 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's Oct. 31 Topeka, KS Uncle Bo's ANDY T - NICK NIXON BAND   "NUMBERS MAN" The Andy T-Nick Nixon Band displays musicianship at its highest. The blues has a history of great partnerships, and Numbers Man offers proof positive that Andy T and Nick Nixon belong in that select group.   Andy T’s jazz-tinged guitar style is influenced by T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Magic Sam, and Albert Collins among others, yet it remains his own. The velvet-voiced Nixon, part of Nashville’s thriving blues and R&B scene in the 60’s and 70’s, sings in a style that recalls Jimmy Witherspoon and Billy Eckstine. Even though he’s now in his 70’s, Nixon’s voice still has all the power and energy of a man half his age and it’s crystal clear that this man was born to sing the blues. Combined with Andy T’s bold, vibrant tones and equally rooted guitar style, it makes for a uniquely satisfying brand of soulful blues. Numbers Man was produced by renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh, and features the great Kim Wilson’s harmonica on one of the tracks. Andy T-Nick Nixon Band Upcoming Tour Dates Aug. 30 Nashville, TN Hard Rock Sept. 13 Las Vegas, NV Big Blues Bender Sept. 18 Marietta, GA Darwin's Sept. 19 Tallahassee, FL Bradfordville Blues Club Sept. 22 Nashville, TN Nashville Music Series Sept. 25 Champaign, IL Blues Blast Music Awards Oct. 10 Helena, AR King Biscuit Blues Festival

Vizztone Label Group: Ruff Kutt Blues Band - That's When The Blues Begins - New Release Review

I just received the newest Ruff Kutt recording, That's When The Blues Begins, and I'm betting you're going to love it! Opening with Deep Elam Blues, Ruff Kutt wastes absolutely no time in getting gritty. Finis Tasby takes the lead on vocals and Zac Harmon and Anson Funderburgh the lead on guitar. The guitar working is stinging and Sax player Ron Jones really beefs up the bottom. Blues In My Blood with a strong funky back beat is up next featuring stinging guitar guitar work throughout. Don't It Make You Cry, a New Orleans soul influenced track gives Jones a great opportunity to play a super melodic solo. Oh Woman!, another strongly soul influenced track features some super vocals by Tasby and Jones pours on the heat on sax. Zac Harmon takes the lead vocals on Down So Low, a loping Texas style blues track with a healthy dose of slick guitar riffs. On Bare Foot Blues, Tasby returns to the mic and the band plays a swing style blues track. Wes Starr keeps things tight on drums and Gentleman John Street rides the keys. Funderburgh plays some really nice riffs on this track. The Blues Ain't A Color is a real clever track and a real swinger. Background vocals by Steven Richardson really give depth to an already rich lead vocal by Harmon. This track has some particularly hot guitar riffs on it as well. That's When The Blues Begins has a deep blues feel which takes strong depth from gospel styling. Vocal blending on this track is particularly strong and allows a nice spacing for really articulate guitar playing. I'm Over You Woman has a Albert King kind of sound again featuring Harmon on vocals. Going To Bluesville has a solid R&B strut. Funderburgh nicely punctuates Harmon's vocals with his guitar together with the band creating one of the most swinging tracks on the release. Let's Dance has a real nice groove and super horn work creating a super blues base. Tasby, back on vocals really delivers the goods on this track and Funderburgh plays a really relaxed but concise solo on this track making for a really cool track. On the finale, When A Bluesman Goes To Heaven, Harmon delivers a great punch on vocals and Funderburgh is right there dotting the i's. A guitar duet ensues on this track and the players nicely compliment each other. This a a really cool release and one that allows a number of really talented players to work together on a special project. I really like this release and I suspect that new fans will be made for the individual players as well as for Ruff Kutt!  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Deep Texas Blues - Ruff Kutt Blues Band - FREE TRACK

BRAND NEW FROM THE VIZZTONE LABEL GROUP Ruff Kutt Blues Band That's When The Blues Begins free track download & listening party! Click HERE to get a free download and a special offer, and to hear the whole album! Deep Texas Blues featuring Zac Harmon, Finis Tasby, and Anson Funderburgh Texan James Goode describes himself as an “old rascal and beat-up coach," but this Rockabilly Hall-Of-Fame inductee, songwriter, bass player, and creator of the Ruff Kutt Blues Band certainly knows how to field one hell of a Blues team.  THAT’S WHEN THE BLUES BEGINS features fourteen songs written or co-written by Goode, performed by world class Bluesmen including vocalist/guitarist Zac Harmon, vocalist Finis Tasby, and producer/guitarist Anson Funderburgh.    The first Ruff Kutt Blues Band album, Mill Block Blues (2011), garnered critical raves and was so successful that Goode was able to donate $10,000 of proceeds to the Blues Foundation’s HART Fund, providing relief to Blues musicians in need.  When he decided to do a follow up, it went without saying that the first call would go out to Texas Blues guitar hero Anson Funderburgh, who anchored the first CD.  Anson was quick to sign on to produce the new CD, and soon they brought in internationally acclaimed Blues heavyweights Zac Harmon and Finis Tasby to form the nucleus of the team for THAT’S WHEN THE BLUES BEGINS. Rounding things out are Wes Starr on drums, Ron Jones on saxophone, and keyboardist/engineer Gentleman John Street. This all-star aggregation hits a deep Blues groove and delivers Goode’s songs with the assured, relaxed intensity of seasoned pros.  Sadly, these sessions are the last recordings Finis Tasby completed before suffering a debilitating stroke in December, 2012.  His many friends and fans have been sending prayers, support, and their hopes for his recovery. Zac Harmon, James Goode, Finis Tasby, Anson Funderburgh TRACKS: 01.  Deep Elam Blues 02.  Blues In My Blood 03.  Don’t It Make You Cry 04.  Oh Woman 05.  Down So Low 06.  Bare Foot Blues 07.  Blues Ain’t A Color 08.  That’s When The Blues Begins 09.  That Woman Gives Me Fever 10.  I’m Over You Woman 11.  Going To Bluesville 12.  Touched By Her Flame 13.  Let’s Dance 14.  When A Bluesman Goes To Heaven "The triple-threat of Harmon, Tasby and Funderburgh chase the blues away with an ease that belies their total artistic command."  — Dave Rubin CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A FREE TRACK, HEAR THE WHOLE CD, AND GET A SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER